ICC donates $500,000 for earthquake victims

SYDNEY—The International Cricket Council (ICC) will donate $500,000 to the victims of the massive earthquake that hit India and Pakistan.
“The ICC and the Australian Red Cross, on behalf of the international relief agency Red Cross/Red Crescent, announce that day two of the Johnnie Walker Super Series Test match (Oct 15) will be dedicated to helping the victims of the Asian earthquake,” the ICC said in a statement.
ICC President Ehsan Mani, who comes from Rawalpindi, said: “All of us at ICC are shocked and saddened by this tragedy and the impact it has had in my country and I send my prayers and condolences to all those affected by it.
“In matters such as this, where our member countries have been so directly and critically affected, it is vital that ICC and cricket uses its influence to be a force for good,” he said.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Sharayar Khan and Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who heads the Indian cricket board, told the ICC the magnitude of the damage done by the quake that left thousands in both countries dead.
“Khan and Mahendra played a leading role in helping the Board to understand the impact of this tragedy and all countries were unanimous in their support of this initiative,” said Mani.
The ICC, the Australian Red Cross, the global Red Cross/Red Crescent and the host broadcaster, Channel 9, will join forces to help raise funds for the relief efforts in the region.
To kickstart the appeal, the ICC executive board will make an immediate donation of $500,000 from the proceeds of the Super Series to Australian Red Cross to assist in its relief efforts through the Red Cross/Red Crescent.
On Oct 15, the ICC and the Australian Red Cross, with the support of Channel 9, will also run a number of activities at the ground and through the telecast to help encourage people to make donations.
At the venue, activities on the replay screen, the public address system and on-field activities will be used to help encourage people to make donations.
“It’s a kind gesture shown by the ICC and we believe it would contribute a noble cause,” PCB media director Abbas Zaidi said in Pakistan.
Zaidi also said that the cricket boards of Pakistan and England had agreed to raise funds from England’s upcoming tour of the country for relief efforts.
Money generated from the first one-day international at Lahore would go towards this cause.
“The entire gate receipts for this match will be given to the President’s Relief Fund,” he said. “The ECB will shortly announce its own contribution”.—Online

PST sends relief goods worth Rs2.5m to earthquake victims
By Our Sports Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Pakistan Sports Trust (PST), Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan, HI (M) has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the deaths and massive devastation caused by the earthquake and has donated Rupees 2.5 million worth of relief goods for the earthquake victims on behalf of Pakistan Sports Trust through the Hero Pakistani Collectable Scheme — a fundraising project of PST.
PST has purchased and already delivered about 30% of the relief goods to the Army Relief Camp at Race Course Ground, Rawalpindi, for onward delivery to Azad Jammu & Kashmir and NWFP.
The relief goods were packed by the sportsmen training for the SAF Games at Pakistan Sports Complex, in three hundred cartons, each weighing 40 kilograms, containing a mix of food, shelter and medicines. The Food Items include flour, sugar, rice, ghee, tea, biscuits, dal, milk, mineral water. Shelter Items include tents, blankets and tarpaulins. In addition all necessary First-Aid items and 700 units of shroud cloth have also been included in the consignment.
Chairman PST said, “we decided to provide relief goods in such a way that each carton is enough for the survival of four to five shelter-less people for about a week, like tents, blankets, food, water and medicines”.
Lt Gen Arif Hasan said the countrymen should work together as a well coordinated team at this juncture to rehabilitate the victims in their hour of trial.
“It is our moral duty to do whatever is within our means for our brothers and sisters who have all of a sudden become shelter-less due to this natural disaster,” he added.
Formation of Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) was approved by the Government of Pakistan to work for the promotion of sports, education and culture in the country.
The Trust’s mission is to hunt for and nurture raw sporting talent from all areas of the country and provide them state-of-the-art training and financial assistance to enable more athletes to compete in international sporting events and win laurels for the country.
The funds generated by PST are primarily spent on sports development while culture and education related activities also receive support.

POA donates Rs 1.00 million for quake victims

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Olympic Association has donated Rs.1 million to the President’s Relief Fund for earthquake victims.
The POA President, Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan, HI (M), while announcing the donation, expressed his heartfelt sorrow and grief over the deaths and devastation caused by the earthquake.
He said the countrymen should work together as a team to rehabilitate the victims in this hour of trial and also appealed to national sports federations and organisations to come forward and seriously support all efforts for the rehabilitation of affectees.
“It is our national duty to do whatever is within our means for our brothers and sisters especially those who have suddenly become shelterless due to this natural disaster”, he said.—PR

PBSA contributes Rs.100,000 to PSB for earthquake victims

KARACHI—Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has contributed Rs.100,000 for earthquake victims to Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
PBSA Chief Asghar Valika said Wednesday that, PSB had requested the national sports federations of the country to contribute in national cause.
He said money given to PSB will be donated to President’s Relief Fund.—Agencies

Afridi to help quake affectees

ISLAMABAD—All Rounder Shahid Afridi has announced to auction his World XI autograph shirt, cap of Pakistan national team and bat as financial aid for quake victims.
In an interview to a private channel, Afridi said that he would give his belongings including bat, shirt which has signature of all the players to Mir Khalil ur Rehman Foundation (MKRF) for auction.
The money will be donated to earthquake victims.—Online

Pak players announce to launch relief campaign for quake affectees

ISLAMABAD—Celebrated and prominent players of Pakistan has decided to launch a three day campaign to help affectees of earthquake.
In this regard former Olympian Salahuddin said that players of cricket, hockey and squash in a form of group will visit different areas of Karachi to collect funds for the victims of massive earthquake.
The players include former Pakistan Captain Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, Moin Khan, Shahid Afridi, Salahuddin, Samiullah, Hasan Sardar, Jahanghir Khan and other stars who will collect money and then give it in President Relief Fund.—Agencies